Hel. Is this the way?
A march afarre.
Wid. I marrie ist. Harke you, they come this way: If you will tarrie holy Pilgrime But till the troopes come by, I will conduct you where you shall be lodg"d, The rather for I thinke I know your hostesse As ample as my selfe
Hel. Is it your selfe?
Wid. If you shall please so Pilgrime
Hel. I thanke you, and will stay vpon your leisure
Wid. You came I thinke from France?
Hel. I did so
Wid. Heere you shall see a Countriman of yours That has done worthy seruice
Hel. His name I pray you?
Dia. The Count Rossillion: know you such a one?
Hel. But by the eare that heares most n.o.bly of him: His face I know not
Dia. What somere he is He"s brauely taken heere. He stole from France As "tis reported: for the King had married him Against his liking. Thinke you it is so?
Hel. I surely meere the truth, I know his Lady
Dia. There is a Gentleman that serues the Count, Reports but coursely of her
Hel. What"s his name?
Dia. Monsieur Parrolles
Hel. Oh I beleeue with him, In argument of praise, or to the worth Of the great Count himselfe, she is too meane To haue her name repeated, all her deseruing Is a reserued honestie, and that I haue not heard examin"d
Dian. Alas poore Ladie, "Tis a hard bondage to become the wife Of a detesting Lord
Wid. I write good creature, wheresoere she is, Her hart waighes sadly: this yong maid might do her A shrewd turne if she pleas"d
Hel. How do you meane?
May be the amorous Count solicites her In the vnlawfull purpose
Wid. He does indeede, And brokes with all that can in such a suite Corrupt the tender honour of a Maide: But she is arm"d for him, and keepes her guard In honestest defence.
Drumme and Colours. Enter Count Rossillion, Parrolles, and the whole Armie.
Mar. The G.o.ddes forbid else
Wid. So, now they come: That is Anthonio the Dukes eldest sonne, That Escalus
Hel. Which is the Frenchman?
Dia. Hee, That with the plume, "tis a most gallant fellow, I would he lou"d his wife: if he were honester He were much goodlier. Is"t not a handsom Gentleman Hel. I like him well
Di. "Tis pitty he is not honest: yonds that same knaue That leades him to these places: were I his Ladie, I would poison that vile Rascall
Hel. Which is he?
Dia. That Iacke-an-apes with scarfes. Why is hee melancholly?
Hel. Perchance he"s hurt i"th battaile
Par. Loose our drum? Well
Mar. He"s shrewdly vext at something. Looke he has spyed vs
Wid. Marrie hang you
Mar. And your curtesie, for a ring-carrier.
Enter.
Wid. The troope is past: Come pilgrim, I wil bring you, Where you shall host: Of inioyn"d penitents There"s foure or fiue, to great S[aint]. Iaques bound, Alreadie at my house
Hel. I humbly thanke you: Please it this Matron, and this gentle Maide To eate with vs to night, the charge and thanking Shall be for me, and to requite you further, I will bestow some precepts of this Virgin, Worthy the note
Both. Wee"l take your offer kindly.
Exeunt.
Enter Count Rossillion and the Frenchmen, as at first.
Cap.E. Nay good my Lord put him too"t: let him haue his way
Cap.G. If your Lordshippe finde him not a Hilding, hold me no more in your respect
Cap.E. On my life my Lord, a bubble
Ber. Do you thinke I am so farre Deceiued in him
Cap.E. Beleeue it my Lord, in mine owne direct knowledge, without any malice, but to speake of him as my kinsman, hee"s a most notable Coward, an infinite and endlesse Lyar, an hourely promise-breaker, the owner of no one good qualitie, worthy your Lordships entertainment
Cap.G. It were fit you knew him, least reposing too farre in his vertue which he hath not, he might at some great and trustie businesse, in a maine daunger, fayle you
Ber. I would I knew in what particular action to try him
Cap.G. None better then to let him fetch off his drumme, which you heare him so confidently vndertake to do
C.E. I with a troop of Florentines wil sodainly surprize him; such I will haue whom I am sure he knowes not from the enemie: wee will binde and hoodwinke him so, that he shall suppose no other but that he is carried into the Leager of the aduersaries, when we bring him to our owne tents: be but your Lordship present at his examination, if he do not for the promise of his life, and in the highest compulsion of base feare, offer to betray you, and deliuer all the intelligence in his power against you, and that with the diuine forfeite of his soule vpon oath, neuer trust my iudgement in anie thing
Cap.G. O for the loue of laughter, let him fetch his drumme, he sayes he has a stratagem for"t: when your Lordship sees the bottome of this successe in"t, and to what mettle this counterfeyt lump of ours will be melted if you giue him not Iohn drummes entertainement, your inclining cannot be remoued. Heere he comes.
Enter Parrolles.
Cap.E. O for the loue of laughter hinder not the honor of his designe, let him fetch off his drumme in any hand
Ber. How now Monsieur? This drumme sticks sorely in your disposition
Cap.G. A pox on"t, let it go, "tis but a drumme